Qatar-based firm to produce $1.22b Prophet Muhammad movie series

DOHA (AFP) - Qatar-based company Alnoor Holding has said it will raise the budget for a planned movie series on the life of Prophet Muhammad to US$1 billion (S$1.22 billion) from the US$1.5 million announced three years ago.

The biopics will be produced as a series of "seven films - instead of three films as per an earlier announcement - with a total budget of US$1 billion", Alnoor chairman Ahmed Al-Hashemi said in a statement received by AFP on Tuesday.

The company said "the team of experts has finished writing the scenario after overcoming numerous artistic and dramatic challenges".

Alnoor announced in 2009 that it was seeking financing for the film series, to be produced by Barrie Osborne, a Hollywood veteran of more than 40 years whose credits include Lord of the Rings and The Matrix.